Illuminating aiming attachment for firearms



SR z lzm aao Dec. 20, 1938- c. B. OSBORN ILLUMINATING AIMING ATTACHMENTFOR FIREARMS Filed May 4, 1936 in l A MJI i LttAu IHrMU. f

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Patented Dec. 20 1 38 ILLUMINATING AIMING ATTACHMENT FOR FIREARMS CarlBenton Osborn, Tampa, Fla.

Application May 4, 1936, Serial No. 77,871

7 Claims. (01. 240-6411) The invention forming the subject matter ofmeans adjacent to the trigger mechanism of the this application is inthe nature of an attachment fi m w y e u can Operate the flashforfirearms in general, and more particularly relight independently f or sta u y with lates to illuminating aiming attachments designed t eOperation of the trigger of the firearm- 5 to be applied to small armsto facilitate their Other objects of the invention will become apbeingaimed at a target at night-time or when parent as the detaileddescription thereof prolighting conditions are below normal. ceeds.

The main object of the invention is to make In e w available for theaiming of firearms the vary- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a firearmof the 10 ing intensities of light and shade found in the revolver typhaving the attachment Which f S pattern of light thrown by the commontypes of the present invention applied thereto; flashlights that havefacilities for focusing the Figure 2 is a sectional side elevationsimilar light beam issuing therefrom; by causing the aim to Figure 1,but with the adjustable connecting of the firearm to be directed upon adistinctive part shown in vertical section;

15 spot of light or shade of relatively small area that F e 3 is abottom P View Of the t in the focusing of such flashlights is made toapment shown in Figures 1 and 2, but with the pear within the largerarea illuminated by the flashlight a d r v v t d; light beam. Thedistinctive spot mentioned may Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectiontaken result from adjusting the light beam slightly out on the line 4-4of Figure 2;

20 of focus producing a dark or shade spot; it may Figure 5 is a.vertical transverse section taken be the result of drawing the lightbeam down to a n the line 5 of Figure 2; and small or fine focus,producing a contrastingly Figure 6 is a persp View Of an a j ab vividand relatively small spot of light in the flashlight operating memberadapted for use with approximate center of the general illumination,flashlights having the operating push button at 25 or it may be acontrasting and easily distinguishdifferent locations on the barrel orcasing thereof. able spot of either light or shade caused by un-Referring to the drawing, in which similar parts equal refraction of theglass through which the are designated by like numerals: light beamleaves the flashlight, or it may be the The firearm to which theattachment is to be result of other causes. applied is illustrated inFigures 1 and 2 as a 30 To the end above set forth, an attachment isrevolver of well-known type. It is to be underprovided which can beapplied to a small arm of stood, however, that this illustration ismerely the pistol, automatic pistol, or revolver type and intended togive an example of the method of apto such arms as rifles, shotguns orarms of any plying the attachment; and that the firearm may type adaptedfor use with an illuminating, aiming be of any other type adapted foruse with an 35 device without necessitating any change inconilluminating aiming device.

struction of the arm, such attachment also cm- The revolver, which isindicated generally by bodying means for supporting a flash-light of thereference numeral 1, comprises a butt or stock common construction andprovided with means 8 and a barrel 9, with the usual trigger l0 and offocusing the beam of light emanating from trigger guard II forming partthereof. The flash- 40 such flashlight, and without any change in thelight intended to be detachably connected to the construction of suchflashlight, in such position that such flashlight may be adjusted invarious directions to enable a distinctive spot in its light pattern tobe made to coincide with the aim of the firearm which is held rigidly insaid attachment by means provided.

With the flashlight so adjusted that the said distinctive spot coincideswith the aim of the firearm in the plane of the object to be fired at,it is obvious that merely holding the spot upon the said objectsimultaneously directs the aim of the firearm upon that object, so thatthe firearm is thus aimed quickly and accurately without reference tothe sights usually provided as a part of or as parts of the firearm fordirecting the aim thereof, and the object to be fired upon may be strucksimply by holding the spot upon said object and discharging the firearm.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an attachment of thecharacter referred to, a

revolver I is designated by the reference numeral l2. The support forthe flashlight 12 comprises a strip l3 of sheet metal, or other suitablematerial, slidably connected to a strip 14. The strip I3 is provided atits rear end with a slot I5 (see Figure 2) through which extends theshank I6 of a bolt ll, which is screwthreaded into an aperture formed inthe plate I4. A wing nut I8 threaded onto the shank N5 of bolt l1 servesto clamp the slotted end of the strip 13 against the strip IA.

The forward end of the strip 14 is provided with a slot l9, throughwhich extends the screwthreaded shank 20 of a machine screw which isthreaded into the strip I3. A wing nut 2| is swedged to or otherwisefixed to the lower end of the screw 20, and facilitates the turning ofthe screw to clamp the outer end of the strip l4 against the strip 13.The invention is not particularly concerned with the details of theclamping nut, since any other equivalents of the same may be used forclamping the two strips 3 and I4 together in lengthwise adjustedpositions.

The rear end of the strip I4 is bent upwardly to form a flange 22. Thisflange is bent to conform generally to the curvature of the end of thebutt 8, and is provided with adjustable screws 23 and 24, pointed attheir inner end to contact with the end of the butt 8, which may beprovided with conical depressions 25 and 26, to receive the pointed endsof the screws 23 and 24, respectively.

To clamp the gun butt 8 firmly against the flange 22, or against thescrews 23 and 24 thereof, there is provided a plate 26' mounted to slideon the upper surface of the rear end of the strip l4. A machine screw 21secured at one end to the plate 26', has a screwthreaded shank extendingfreely through a slot 28 formed in the strip M. A wing nut 29 serves toclamp the plate 26' in adjusted position on the rear end of the stripl4. Screws 36 and 3| similar to the screws 23 and 24 are adjustablethrough an upwardly turned flange 32 on the end of the plate 26' intocontact with the butt 8 to effectively secure the butt 8 in position atthe end of the strip M. A screwthreaded rod R extends from the end ofthe plate 26' through an aperture at the lower end of flange 22, and awing nut N on rod R serves to adjust said plate 26 and its flange 32into clamping position against butt 8.

The barrel 9 of the gun is secured to the strip l4 (see Figure 4) by astandard designated generally by the reference numeral 33. This standardcomprises an angle iron having a flange 34 suitably secured as by ascrew 35, to the lower strip l4. The other member 36 of the angle ironis provided with a slot 31, and extends substantially perpendicularly tothe strip I4.

Extending upwardly from the member 36 there is a member 38 ofsubstantially the same width as the member 36. The lower end of themember 38 is provided with a tongue 39 which fits snugly and slidably inthe slot 31. A bolt 40 extends through the slot 31, and is provided witha wing nut 4|, by means of which the members 36 and 38 may be clampedtogether in lengthwise relatively adjusted positions.

The upper end of the member 38 is bent to form an angular flange 42, inthe angle of which the gun barrel 9 is adapted to be seated. The upperend of the member 38 is also provided with a slot 43 adapted to receiveslidably the shank of a bolt 44. A clamping member of substantially thesame width as the member 38 is adapted to slide lengthwise of saidmember 38 along the slotted portion thereof. The member 45 is providedwith a tongue 46, which fits snugly and slidably into the slot 43. Thehead of the bolt 44 is secured to the clamping member 45, and a wing nut41 on the bolt 44 serves to clamp the member 45 in adjusted position onthe member 38.

It will be apparent from Figure 4 of the drawing that the angularclamping members 42 and 45 are shaped so as to provide for the receptionof gun barrels of different sizes. It will also be apparent that theadjustable connection between the members 36 and 38 provides for theadjustment of the gun barrel into substantial parallelism with thestrips l3 and H.

To facilitate the aiming of the firearm 1 at night or in dim light,there is mounted on the strip l3 the flashlight l2. It is obvious thatthis flashlight must be mounted in such position with respect to the gunbarrel 9, that the distinctive spot in the beam of light and theprojectile of the firearm will intersect on the target. Accordingly, theflashlight must be provided with some means for adjustably mounting iton the support l3, which as previously described, occupies a positionsubstantially parallel with the axis of the barrel 9.

At its rear end the flashlight I2 is seated between the arms 48 and 49of a U-shaped spring clip which is designated generally by the referencenumeral 58 (see Figure 4). The clip 58 comprises a pair of upwardlyextending members 5| and 52 forming extensions of the arms 48 and 49,respectively, and connected at the lower ends by a transverse member 53.The arms 48 and 49 can be adjusted toward and from each other by meansof the screw 54 which connects the spring members 5| and 52 near theupper ends thereof.

A screwthreaded rod 55 is secured at its lower end to the strip l3, andthis rod passes freely through an aperture formed centrally in thetransverse member 53. A pair of nuts 56 and 51 are threaded onto the rod55 on opposite sides of the member 53 and serve to secure the clip invertically adjusted position with respect to the strip IS.

The forward end of the flashlight I2 is received between the arms 58 and59 of a spring clip designated generally by the reference numeral 66.The arms 58 and 59 are connected at their lower ends by a transversemember 6| which is provided with a slot 62 extending substantiallythroughout the length thereof. An externally screwthreaded sleeve 63 isthreaded into the strip i3, and at its lower end is provided withflattened portions 64 and 65 adapted to receive a wrench for the purposeof turning the said sleeve in the strip 3.

A bolt 66 extends through the sleeve 63, and the head 61 of the boltextends across the slot 62 in the member 6|. A wing nut 68 on thescrewthreaded shank of the bolt 66 serves to clamp the member 6|securely against the upper end of the sleeve 63. It will be apparentfrom the construction of the flashlight support members that both endsare mounted on the strip l3 for vertical adjustment toward and from thebarrel 9 of the firearm. In addition to this vertical adjustment theslot 62 in the member 6| provides for such transverse adjustment of theforward end of the flashlight |2 as may be necessary to bring the beamof light into parallelism with the axis of the barrel 9.

The clip 68 is provided with an adjusting screw 69 similar to the screw54, for adjusting the arms 58 and 59 into clamping position on theforward end of the flashlight l2. That portion of the screw 69 betweenthe arms 58 and 59 constitutes a pivot for one end of a trigger 18 whichis located to be swung about said pivot into contact with the button 1|for operating the flashlight l2. The lower end of the trigger 10 isprovided with a slot adapted to receive therein a spacer between twoball members of a chain 12 of common construction.

The trigger 10' normally hangs by gravity out of contact with theflashlight operating button 1|. The chain 12 extends lengthwise of thestrips I3 and M, and is connected at its other end to a flange 13 whichprojects upwardly from a plate 14. The plate 14 is mounted to slide overa flange 15, which may be secured as by screw 16 in any one of a seriesof screw-threaded apertures 11 formed in the strip I4. The flange I5 isprovided at its opposite edges with upturned lugs 18 and I9, and a pin88 extends through said lugs and across the plate 14 to maintain it insliding contact with the flange T5. The flange 15 at its rear end isconnected to an upwardly turned flange 8i which is slotted to permit thesliding movement of the plate 14 therethrough.

The upturned flange Bl has a screwthreaded rod 82 fixed thereto by meansof a lock nut 88, and the rod 82 passes freely through an aperture 84formed in the upturned flange of the trigger plate 14; and a nut 86 isadjustable on the rod 82 to limit the forward movement of the plate 14under the influence of a compression spring 86 which surrounds the rod82 between the fixed flange 8| and the upturned flange on the plate 14.

The plate 14 is bent downwardly toward the rear end of the strip [4 toslide on the upper surface thereof, and is then bent upwardly to form ahook 81 adapted to be engaged by a finger of the operator for thepurpose of exerting tension on the chain 12 sufficient to move thetrigger 16 against the flashlight button H. As shown in Figure 2 of thedrawing the strip M is provided with a series of screwthreaded apertures35' to provide for the bodily adjustment of the standard 33 lengthwiseof the strip l4. Flashlights of different length are provided for by asecond and maybe a third threaded hole in plate I3 to receive threadedsleeve 63.

As so far described, the attachment is provided with means forpositioning the flashlight in accordance with variations in the type offirearm. In order to provide for the use of flashlights of differentlength, I have designed a flashlight operating trigger designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 88 (see Figure 6). This trigger isadjustable to flashlights having the push button at different locationson the flashlight barrel.

The trigger 88 comprises a plate 89 slotted throughout the greater partof its length to receive a contact screw 98 adjustable, along with slot9|, into proper position to make contact with the flashlight operatingbutton ll when the trigger 88 shall have been substituted for thetrigger 10. The forward end of the plate 89 is provided with a pair ofdownwardly projecting lugs 92 and 93 which are apertured to receive thepivot rod or screw 69. The other end of the plate 89 is bent downwardlyat substantially right angles to form a flange 94. This flange 94 isprovided with a slot 95 in which is slidably received the shank of ascrew 96 which extends into the rear part of a U-shaped member 97. Thearms 98 and 99 of the member 9'! have a pivot rod 99' extendingtherethrough to form a pivot for a substantially U-shaped trigger memberN18. The free end of the trigger member I88 is provided with a slot l8!to receive one of the spacer links in the chain 12. It is believed theoperation of this flashlight operating member 88 will be obvious from aninspection of the drawing.

Numerous variations may doubtless be devised by persons skilled in theart without departing from the principles of my invention. I, therefore,desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, except such as areindicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A firearm having a barrel and a stock, a support, adjustable meansfor detachably clamping one end of said support to the stock, means fordetachably connecting said support to the barrel and substantiallyparallel to said barrel, a casing having means therein for directing andfocusing a beam of light, and means for mounting said casing betweensaid barrel and support on the support, said means being adjustable tovary the angle of the beam of light with respect to the axis of thebarrel.

2. A firearm having a barrel and a stock, a support, adjustable meansfor detachably clamping one end of said support to the stock, means fordetachably connecting said support to the barrel and substantiallyparallel to said barrel, a casing having means therein for focusing anddirecting a beam of light, a pair of standards adjustableperpendicularly to said support and having means at their upper ends forclamping said casing thereon between said barrel and support, means foradjusting each of said standards toward and from said barrel, and meanson one of said standards for adjusting the clamping means connectedthereto laterally of said barrel.

3. A firearm having a barrel and a stock, a trigger, a support,adjustable means for detachably clamping one end of said support tov thestock, means for detachably connecting said support to the barrel andsubstantially parallel to said barrel, a casing having means therein forfocusing and directing a beam of light, means for mounting said casingon said support and between said barrel and support for adjustment withrespect to said barrel in two directions, and means slidably mounted onsaid support adjacent to said stock and trigger for operating the lightdirecting means in said casing.

4. A firearm having a barrel and a stock, a trigger, a support,adjustable means for detachably clamping one end of said support to. thestock, means for detachably connecting said support to the barrel andsubstantially parallel to said barrel, a flashlight comprising a casinghaving means therein for generating and focusing a beam of light and abutton extending through the casing to control the operation of saidmeans,

a pair of standards mounted on said support and having clamps at theirupper ends for securing said casing in position on said standards, andmeans slidably mounted on said support adjacent to said stock andtrigger and connected to said button for operating the light generatingmeans in said casing.

5. The device set forth in claim 4, in which said support is extensiblelengthwise, in combination with means for fixing said support in anyposition of extension.

6. The device set forth in claim 4, in which said support comprises apair of strips, one slidably mounted upon the other, with means forclamping said strips to each other in any desired position of lengthwiseextension.

7. A firearm having a barrel and a stock, a support comprising a stripof material having a flange at one end thereof, a member slidable onsaid strip toward and from said flange to clamp the end of said stockagainst the flange, said strip extending substantially parallel to thebarrel, a pair of standards adjustable perpendicularly to said strip,means at the upper end of said standards for detachably securing aflashlight thereto, a trigger slidable on said strip adjacent to thestock clamping end thereof, and means connecting said trigger to saidflashlight for controlling the operation thereof.

CARL BENTON OSBORN.

